Display easel



United States Patent 3,357,671 DISPLAY EASEL Edward M. Ketterer, Buffalo, N.Y., assignor to The Colad Company, Inc., Buifalo, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed May 4, 1966, Ser. No. 547,646 6 Claims. (Cl. 248459) This invention relates to a display easel.

Objects are to fabricate it in the form of a single sheet of foldable sheet material which can be selected from a Wide range of paper, cardboard, organic plastic sheets, leather or other foldable sheet stocks and can be printed or ornamented by various processes to produce display easels of different cost and appearance, particularly at low cost and pleasingly ornamental appearance.

Another object is to provide such an easel which, collapsed, is in the form of a fiat panel which is easily mailed, shipped or stored and can be quickly rendered operative by simply pulling out parts of one of its back panels.

Another object is to provide such an easel which can easily be returned to its fiat panel condition by pushing back such back panel parts.

Another aim is to provide such an easel which is' sturdy and not likely to be toppled over or collapse.

In the drawings, FIG. 1 is a plan view of the front or obverse side of a diecut paper blank showing the score lines along which the blank is to be folded and having a portion of its front face covered with a transparent lamina. In this figure is also shown, in broken lines, the manner in which the center of the rectangular front panel of the easel can be cut out to form a picture frame. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the easel set up. FIG. 3 is a diminutive plan view of the reverse side of the blank shown in FIG. 1 and showing the areas to which glue is applied and also showing the bottom flap of the rectangular front panel folded up. FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the first back panel folded over. FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the second back panel folded over and adhered to the first back panel. FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the top flap of the rectangular front panel folded down and adhesively united to the tops of the first and second back panels and also showing the two isosceles triangular panels of the second back panel drawn into pyramidal form with the flap of one of these isosceles triangular panels slid under the first back panel to hold these isosceles triangular panels in pyramidal relation with the rectangular front panel to provide an easel support for the latter. FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing the rear part of the pyramid formed by the isosceles triangular panels pushed forwardly toward the rectangular front panel to slide one of the isosceles triangular panels between the rectangular panel and first back panel into coplanar relation with the other parts of the second backpanel. FIG. 8 is an enlarged horizontal section taken generally on line 8-8, FIG. 7. FIG. 9 is an enlarged horizontal section taken generally on line 9-9, FIG. 6.

The display easel of the present invention is made from a single sheet 10 of paper or cardboard which is diecut to form the blank illustrated in FIG. 1 and is also provided with score lines as hereinafter described to facilitate folding the blank into the form of an easel which, when completed, can be set up or collapsed into the form of a single fiat panel as many times as may be desired. This blank can be of any sheetmaterial capable of being scored, diecut, folded and either glued or stitched in certain areas as hereinafter described. The blank can be made of stiff paper, cardboard, fiber board, fiber stock, manilas and jutes with any surface finishes Patented Dec. .12, 1967 plastics or leathers and is shown as being made of a stiff paper having a face coating or lamina 11 applied to the obverse face 12 of its upright rectangular panel 13, the reverse face of which is indicated at 14. The face coating or lamina 11 preferably extends around the fold lines at the four sides of the rectangular panel 13 to protect the edges at these fold lines.

The upright rectangular front panel 13 has a bottom edge 15, designed in the claims as a first bottom edge, formed by a score line connecting a bottom flap 16 t0 the rectangular panel 13,. the face coating or lamina 11 extending over this bottom flap. In the folded condition of the easel, this bottom flap 16 is folded upwardly against the reverse face 14 of the upright rectangular panel 13. The top edge 17 is in the form of a score line connecting a top flap 18 with the upright rectangular panel 13, the face coating or lamina 11 also extending over this top fiap. The rear face of this top flap 18 is shown as provided with a layer of glue 19 andin the folded condition of the easel this top flap is folded down behind and adhered to two back panels, as hereinafter described.

One upright edge 20 of the upright rectangular panel 13 is in the form of a fold line connecting a first back panel 21 thereto, this fold line or edge 20 being designated in the claims as a first fold line. This first back panel 21 is formed to provide a second bottom edge 22 which, when the easel is folded, extends along the bottom 15 of the upright rectangular panel 13 as best shown in FIG. 4. This first back panel 21 also has a first outer edge 23 extending upwardly from the outer end of the first bottom edge 22 at an obtuse included angle thereto, as best shown in FIG. 1. This first back panel 21 also has a tab 24 positioned above the upper end of the first outer edge 23 and projecting horizontally outwardly in the plane of the first back panel 21 as best shown in FIG. .1.

A second back panel, indicated generally at 25, is connected to the other upright edge of the rectangular front panel 13 by a second fold line 26. The face coating or lamina 11 also preferably extends around this second fold line 26 onto the second back panel 25 and in the folded position of the easel the entire second back panel 25 is folded back of the rectangular front panel 13.

This second back panel 25 includes a body part 27 which is formed to provide a third bottom edge 28 exr tending from the bottom of the second fold line 26, and, in the folded condition of the easel, this third bottom edge 28 extends along the bottom 15 of the upright rectangular panel 13. This second back panel 25 also includes a second outer edge 29 extending length-wise of the first and second fold lines 20 and 26 along the upper part of the body part 27.

The second back panel 25 also includes a first isosceles triangular panel 30 of greater heighth than width and having one longer edge connected to the body part 27 by a third fold. line 31 extending upwardly from the outer end of the third bottom edge 28 in upwardly diverging relation to the second fold line 26 and toward the bottom of the second outer edge 29. The base edge 32 extends from the bottom of the body part 27, preferably in line with its bottom edge 28, so that in the folded condition of the easel this bottom edge 32 also or printing. It can be made of any semi-stiff flexible sheet extends along the bottom 15 of the rectangular panel 13.

The second back panel 25 also includes a truncated isosceles triangular panel 35 of the same size and form as the first isosceles triangular panel 30 with one-longer edge connected to the other longer edge of the first isosceles triangular panel by a fourth fold line'36. The bottom triangle edge of this panel is indicated at 37. The edge 38 opposite this fourth fold line 36 extends lengthwise of the first and second fold lines 20, 26 to put this panel 35 in truncated isosceles triangular form by the elimination of its base angle opposite this fourth fold line 36.

The second back panel 25 also includes a wing or flap 39 connected by a fifth fold line 40 to the triangle edge of the truncated isosceles triangular panel 35 opposite to its said fourth fold line 36. Preferably this wing or flap 39 is of obtuse triangular form with its apex 41 at the apexes 42 and 43 of the first and truncated isosceles triangular panels 30 and 35, respectively, and the base 44 of the obtuse triangular wing or flap 39 preferably forms a linear continuation of the edge 38 of the truncated isosapexes 42 and 43 of the first and truncated isosceles triangular wing or flap 39 is indicated at 45.

A layer 46 of glue is along the second outer edge 29 of the body part 27 of the second back panel 25 on the side of the latter which comes in contact with the tab 24 of the first back panel 21.

If it is desired to use the easel as a picture frame, the upright rectangular panel 13 can be cut out, as indicated by the dot-dash line 50, to form such a frame, the clear plastic lamina 11 being left intact to form a glazing for the picture frame.

In the manufacture of the easel, the bottom flap 16 is first folded up on its crease line to form the first bottom edge of the easel, this being illustrated in FIG. 3. The first back panel 21 is then folded back along the first fold line 20, as illustrated in FIG. 4, against the back face 14 of the upright rectangular panel 13. The second back panel 25 is then folded back along the second fold line 26, as illustrated in FIG. 5, and its glue layer 46 is adhered to the tab 24 of the first back panel 21. The top flap 18 is then folded down along its line 17 and its layer 19 of glue adhered to the tops of the first and second back panels 21 and 25, as illustrated in FIG. 6. Also the bottom joined parts of the two isosceles triangular panels 30 and 35 are now drawn back, so as to bring these panels into pyramidal form, until the outer edge line 45 of the wing or flap 39 is in register with the first outer edge 23 of the first back panel 21. This wing or flap 39 is then flattened against the back face 14 of the upright rectangular panel 13 and the first outer edge 23 of the first back panel 21 lifted and this wing or flap 39 slid under this edge 23 behind the first back panel 21. The joined bottom parts of the two isosceles triangular panels 30 and 35 are now pressed toward the upright rectangular panel 13, this operating to flatten these isos-- celes triangular panels into a common plane with their wing or flap 39, these parts folding against the reverse face 14 of the upright rectangular panel 13 with the truncated isosceles triangular panel 35 sliding under the first back panel 21 for this purpose.

The easel is now folded or collapsed, for shipping or storage, into the form of a flat panel. To render it operative as an easel, the user pulls out the bottom connected parts of the two isosceles triangular panels 30 and 35 to draw then into triangular pyramidal relation to the upright rectangular panel 13 so as to provide an easel sup ported on the first bottom edge 15 of the upright rectangular panel 13 and the bottom edges 32 and 37 of the isosceles triangular panels 30 and 35 respectively. This pyramidal relation is maintained by the wing or fiap 39 which is held flatwise between the second back panel 21 and the upright rectangular panel 13 as best shown in FIG. 9.

I claim:

1. A display easel capable of being manually folded and unfolded, comprising, in its folded state, 7

(A) a body of foldable sheet material folded to provide (a) an upright rectangular panel with its bottom forming a first bottom edge and the rectangular panel being adapted to form the upright front face of the easel, (b) a first back panel connected to one upright edge of said rectangular panel by a first fold line and folded back against the reverse face of said rectangular panel and being formed to provide (1) a second bottom edge extending from the bottom of said first fold line along the bottom of said rectangular panel (2) a first outer edge extending upwardly from the outer end of said second bottom edge at an obtuse included angle thereto, and

(3) having a top part positioned above the upper end, of said first outer edge of (c) a second back panel connected to the other upright edge of said rectangular panel by a second fold line and arranged against the reverse face of said rectangular panel and having (1) a body part arranged against the reverse side of said rectangular panel and being formed to provide (A) a third bottom edge extending from the bottom of said second fold line along the bottom of said rectangular panel,

(2) a first isosceles triangular panel of greater height than width arranged against the reverse side of said rectangular panel and having (A) one longer edge connected to said body part by a third fold line extending upwardly from the outer end of said third bottom edge in upwardly diverging relation to said second fold line and (B) its base edge forming a fourth bottom edge extending from the bottom of said body part along the bottom of said rectangular panel,

(3) a second isosceles triangular panel also arranged against the reverse side of said rectangular panel with (A) one longer edge connected to the other longer edge of said first isosceles triangular panel by a fourth fold line and (4) a wing arranged against the reverse face of said rectangular panel and (A) connected by a fifth fold line to the edge of said second isosceles triangular panel opposite its said fourth fold line, and

(d) means uniting said top part of said first back panel to the body part of said second back panel,

(B) whereby upon pulling the bottom of said first isosceles triangular panel at its side remote from its said third fold line rearwardly away from said rectangular panel, it

(a) draws both said isosceles triangular panels into the form of a triangular pyramid one side of which is formed by said rectangular panel to support the latter in an upright position on a fiat surface, and

(b) draws said wing so that said fifth hinge line is brought into coincidence with said first outer t edge to maintain said triangular pyramid and (C) upon pushing the rear part of the base of said triangular pyramid toward said retcangular panel, said second isosceles triangular panel slides between said rectangular panel and first back panel into coplanar relation with said body part and first isosceles panel of said second back panel.

2. A display easel as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first back panel and said second back panel extend substantially the full height of said upright rectangular panel.

3. A display easel as set forth in claim 2 additionally including (D) a top flap connected to the top edge of said upright rectangular panel and folded down on the back of the latter over said first and second back panels, and (E) means uniting said top flap to the back faces of said first and second back panels. 4. A display easel as set forth in claim 3 additionally including (F) a bottom flap connected to the bottom edge of said upright rectangular panel and folded up between the back face of the latter and said first and second back panels 5. A display easel as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second isosceles triangular panel is of truncated form with one edge arranged generally parallel with said first and second fold lines, thereby to reduce the corresponding dimension of said sheet to save material.

6. A display easel as set forth in claim 5 wherein one edge of said wing forms a lineal continuation of said one edge of said truncated isosceles triangular panel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 675,731 6/ 1901 Hartwell 248-459 2,783,013 2/1957 Williamson 248-459 X FOREIGN PATENTS 113,330 2/1918 Great Britain.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Primary Examiner. 

1. A DISPLAY EASEL CAPABLE OF BEING MANUALLY FOLDED AND UNFOLDED, COMPRISING, IN ITS FOLDED STATE, (A) A BODY OF FOLDABLE SHEET MATERIAL FOLDED TO PROVIDE (A) AN UPRIGHT RECTANGULAR PANEL WITH ITS BOTTOM FORMING A FIRST BOTTOM EDGE AND THE RECTANGULAR PANEL BEING ADAPTED TO FORM THE UPRIGHT FRONT FACE OF THE EASEL, (B) A FIRST BACK PANEL CONNECTED TO ONE UPRIGHT EDGE OF SAID RECTANGULAR PANEL BY A FIRST FOLD LINE AND FOLDED BACK AGAINST THE REVERSE FACE OF SAID RECTANGULAR PANEL AND BEING FORMED TO PROVIDE (1) A SECOND BOTTOM EDGE EXTENDING FROM THE BOTTOM OF SAID FIRST FOLD LINE ALONG THE BOTTOM OF SAID RECTANGULAR PANEL (2) A FIRST OUTER EDGE EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM THE OUTER END OF SAID SECOND BOTTOM EDGE AT AN OBTUSE INCLUDED ANGLE THERETO, AND (3) HAVING A TOP PART POSITIONED ABOVE THE UPPER END, OF SAID FIRST OUTER EDGE OF (C) A SECOND BACK PANEL CONNECTED TO THE OTHER UPRIGHT EDGE OF SAID RECTANGULAR PANEL BY A SECOND FOLD LINE AND ARRANGED AGAINST THE REVERSE FACE OF SAID RECTANGULAR PANEL AND HAVING (1) A BODY PART ARRANGED AGAINST THE REVERSE SIDE OF SAID RECTANGULAR PANEL AND BEING FORMED TO PROVIDE (A) A THIRD BOTTOM EDGE EXTENDING FROM THE BOTTOM OF SAID SECOND FOLD LINE ALONG THE BOTTOM OF SAID RECTANGULAR PANEL, (2) A FIRST ISOSCELES TRIANGULAR PANEL OF GREATER HEIGHT THAN WIDTH ARRANGED AGAINST THE REVERSE SIDE OF SAID RECTANGULAR PANEL AND HAVING (A) ONE LONGER EDGE CONNECTED TO SAID BODY PART BY A THIRD FOLD LINE EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM THE OUTER END OF SAID THIRD BOTTOM EDGE IN UPWARDLY DIVERGING RELATION TO SAID SECOND FOLD LINE AND (B) ITS BASE EDGE FORMING A FOURTH BOTTOM EDGE EXTENDING FROM THE BOTTOM OF SAID BODY PART ALONG THE BOTTOM OF SAID RECTANGULAR PANEL, (3) A SECOND ISOSCELES TRIANGULAR PANEL ALSO ARRANGED AGAINST THE REVERSE SIDE OF SAID RECTANGULAR PANEL WITH (A) ONE LONGER EDGE CONNECTED TO THE OTHER LONGER EDGE OF SAID FIRST ISOSCELES TRIANGULAR PANEL BY A FOURTH FOLD LINE AND (4) A WING ARRANGED AGAINST THE REVERSE FACE OF SAID RECTANGULAR PANEL AND (A) CONNECTED BY A FIFTH FOLD LINE TO THE EDGE OF SAID SECOND ISOSCELES TRIANGULAR PANEL OPPOSITE ITS SAID FOURTH FOLD LINE, AND (D) MEANS UNITING SAID TOP PART OF SAID FIRST BACK PANEL TO THE BODY PART OF SAID SECOND BACK PANEL, (B) WHEREBY UPON PULLING THE BOTTOM OF SAID FIRST ISOSCELES TRIANGULAR PANEL AT ITS SIDE REMOTE FROM ITS SAID THIRD FOLD LINE REARWARDLY AWAY FROM SAID RECTANGULAR PANEL, IT (A) DRAWS BOTH SAID ISOSCELES TRIANGULAR PANELS INTO THE FORM OF A TRIANGULAR PYRAMID ONE SIDE OF WHICH IS FORMED BY SAID RECTANGULAR PANEL TO SUPPORT THE LATTER IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION ON A FLAT SURFACE, AND (B) DRAWS SAID WING SO THAT SAID FIFTH HINGE LINE IS BROUGHT INTO COINCIDENCE WITH SAID FIRST OUTER EDGE TO MAINTAIN SAID TRIANGULAR PYRAMID AND (C) UPON PUSHING THE REAR PART OF THE BASE OF SAID TRIANGULAR PYRAMID TOWARD SAID RECTANGULAR PANEL, SAID SECOND ISOSCELES TRIANGULAR PANEL SLIDES BETWEEN SAID RECTANGULAR PANEL AND FIRST BACK PANEL INTO COPLANAR RELATION WITH SAID BODY PART AND FIRST ISOSCELES PANEL OF SAID SECOND BACK PANEL. 